Repeating or reclosing cutout



July l 1941# A. RAMSEY REPEATING OR RECLOSING CUTOUT 6 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 1G, 1934 Mw www July l, 1941. A. RAMsEY REPEATING ORRECLOSING CUTOUT Filed Aug. 16, 1934 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 1, 1941. A,RAMsEY' REPEATING OR RECLOSING CUTOUT Filed Aug. 16, 1934 6Sheets-Sheet. 4

July l, 1941. v A RAMSEY 2,247,700

REPEATING 0R RECLOSING UTOUT Filed Aug. 16, 1934 6 Sheets-51186125 Julyl 1941- A A. RAMsEY 2,247,700

REPEATING OR `REGLOSING CUTOUT yFiled Aug. 16, 1954 B-Sheets-Sheet 6Patented Julyl l, 1941 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE '/azia'zoof .REPEATIGon aEoLosrNG cU'roU'r Allan Ramsey, Evanston; Ill., assigner toSchweitzer & Conrad, lnc., Chicago, lll., a corporation of DelawareApplication August 16,1934, sensi Nu. 740,057

(ci 'zoo-12s) 100 Claims.

vMy invention relates to a repeating or reclosing cutout for opening ahighvoltage circuit subject to overloads or shorts and thereafterautomatically reclosing the circuit,

1n the distribution of electrical power, corr-v tinuity of service hasbecome a great factor. Service interruptions on power transmission ordistribution lines occur from various causes and under variousconditions. A large majority of interruptions to service are caused bythe occurrence of temporary or transitory overloads or V Fuses, circuitbreakers, or such other safety devices as are in common use aregenerally designed to open the circuit proniptly upon the occurrence ofan overload to avoid extending the service interruption toward thesource of power. 'I'hey best serve their function asprotective devicesin causing interruption of current flow as quickly as it is possible todetermine the existence of current flow in -excess of that which-it issafe for the line to carry. They are intended and designed. to operateas soon as the current has at- Cil spective fuse devices are hinged attheir lowerl ends to swing downwardly to open position upon interruptionof current flow or when the fuse,

l `the contact means connected to said first fuse tained an excessivevalue, but they are not able to differentiate between a temporary ortransitory overload or short and a permanent one. Even if they were, itlmight not be safe to permit the circuit to remain closed during theentire interval of the overload or short, even though only ofa temporaryor transitory character.

In a large percentage of interruptions of service. or outages, the causeis only temporary, such, for example, as wires swinging together, a treewhichis falling to ground coming across the lines,'flashover of aninsulator due to a voltage the iuse devices, and, in its more specicaspects.

device for reclosing the circuit through said rst fuse deviceautomatically upon blowing of the' 20 other fuse device.

Another object is the provision of improved reclosing contacts, animproved housing arrangement for these contacts, and an improvedarrangement Ior restraining swinging movement o i the reclosing lever.Another object is. the provision of improved latch devices for latchingthe upper ends of the fuse devices to the upper contacts and improvedmeans for releasing these latch devices upon an interruption of currentflow or upon blowing ol improved latch releasing means which will actcumulatively with the means fox-producing a positive gap and extendingthe same when surgeI produced by atmospheric electricity, or

switching operations on connected circuits, etc. Hence, if a line isprotected by a device without reclosing characteristics, the service isinterrupted by an overload vor short and remains interrupted even if thecause is self-clearing in character, and when the trouble man comes onthe job to reestablish service he nds thatthetrouble has cleared itselfand no longer exists. V

The primary object of my present invention is to provide a simple andreliable reclosingcutout for the service above described.

I While the particular embodiment which I shall described hereinafter inconnection with the drawings employs fuse devices of the drop-outexpulsion type, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedin` all respects to use oi 'these devices but may employ all similar orequivaient devices as suitable or desired.

According to one phaseoi my invention the-re- Wm Y j v i v blows.

Another Objectis to provide for normally restraining both the gapproducing and the latch releasing means by means of the fuse link.

Another object is to provide an improved upper contact construction andassembly and an improved upper contact bracket and hood for housing andprotecting the upper contact and the upper end oi the fuseA when inclosed position.-

Another object is to provide an improved lower hinge bracket embodyingdrop-out and recoil stops for taking the recoil uponblowing 'of the fuseand preventing dropping out of thev yfuse from open position as well asfrom closed andintermediate positions, and permitting lifting ot theiusefrom its bracket only insubstantially full open position.

Another object-is the provision of an improved lower contactfhoused. andprotected by anoverhanging housing portion which constitutes a part lofthe lower hinge bracket and which also houses the fuse and protects theopen end of the fuse tube when the fuse is in open position.

The fuse link assembly which I employ is preferably of the typedescribed and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 671,660,filed May 18, 1933, now Patent No. 2,091,453, although reference to thisparticular fuse link assembly herein is for purposes of illustration andnot for purposes of limitation.

yOther objects, and the features and advantages of the invention, willbe more apparent from the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view showing one form ofcross-arm.mounting for my present invention;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan elevational view, partally broken away, takenfrom the bottom of one of the upper contact housings;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional View, taken on the line 5-5 of Figure4;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of one of the lower contact andhinge brackets;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary sectional view, more or less diagrammatic, andshowing the hinge mounting of one of the fuse units in the lower bracketand the drop-out and recoil stop arrangement;

Figures8 and 9 are parts of a longitudinal sectional view through one ofthe fuse members;

(Figure 9 is to be laid below Figure 8, with the dot-and-dash line a-aof Figure 9 on the dotand-dash line a-a of Figure 8).

Figure 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line IU-I ofFigure 8;

Figure 11 is a vertical section through one of the reclosing housings,taken on the line II-iI of Figure 1;

Figure ,12 is adetail sectional view through the pivotal mounting forone of the reclosingl levers, taken on the line I 2-12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a perspective view of one of the reclosing contact andspring assemblies;

Figure 14 is a diagram showing the connections of the device with all ofthe fuse units in closed position;

Figure 15 is a diagram showing the connections after the rst fuse hasblown and the second unit has been switched into circuit;

Figure 16 is a diagram showing the connections after the second fuse hasblown and the third fuse unit has been switched Ainto circuit;

Figure 17 is a similar diagram showing the connections with-all of thefuse units blown and in open position;

Figure 18 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the pivotalmounting oi' one of thereclosing levers on the lower hinge bracketsupporting the same;

.-'Figure 19 is a fragmentary detail section taken on the line I9-I9 o!Figure 9 and showing the tail extension of a fuse link of Aa type ormanufacture without\a conical bushing, anchored to the screw threadedinto the cross-web at the lower end of the lower fuse ferrule; and

Figure 20 is a fragmentary elevational view I nism, the purpose of whichis to interrupt the circuit automatically upon a rise of current to avalue in excess of a predetermined amount, thereafter closing thecircuit through another protective device which will remain closed if,in themeanwhile, current iiow has been reduced, but which, if currentiiow is still excessive, will automatically interrupt the circuit andconnect in a third safety device to close the circuit, this third devicebeing capable of interrupting the circuit if the current ow is stillabove a predetermined value. The same principle of opera# tion maybeembodied in any desired number of reclosures.

The three protective devices I, 2 and 3 are preferably, but notnecessarily, fuse devices of the drop-out type, each hinged at its lowerend i to its lower Contact and hinge bracket, and, when of the fuse linkanchoring arrangement shown Y v plate 20.

Vbolted to the plate 20.

the lower ends of the units I and 2 and the units 2 and 3, respectively,for reclosing the circuit through unit 2 upon blowing of the fuse ofunit I, and, thereafter, reclosing the circuit through unit 3 uponblowing of the fuse of uniti. In the illustrated embodiment, the unit Iis the first and the unit 3 is the last protective device to be includedin the circuit. Obviously. within my invention, any number of safetydevices may be employed.

'Ihe incoming line connection is made at i to the upper contact housing1 for one of the units I, 2 or 3, for example, in the illustratedembodiment, to the upper contact housing 1 for the unit 3. The outgoingor load connection is made at 3 to the lower contact and hinge bracketfor the unit I. The circuit may run either way, l. e., either in at 6and out at 8, or vice versa.

A galvanized steel angle bar 9, provided with a bus copper connector I0,carries the `upper contact housings 1 which, with the connector I3, arebolted at II to the vertical flange of the bar 9 with the bus connectorI0 disposed between the mounted ends of the contact housings 'I and thevertical flange of the bar 9 to provide good electrical connectionbetween the housings 1. Intermediate its ends and, in the illustratedembodiment, by means of the bolts II which secure the intermediatecontact housing 1 to the bar 9, this bar is secured' to the metal cap I2on the outer enclv of the insulator I3.

The lower contact and hinge brackets I4 are bolted at I5 (Fig. 6) to themetal caps I6 on the outer ends of Vthe insulators I1. These bracketsI4, one for each of the upper contact housings 1, are disposed tosupport hingedly the lower ends of the units I, 2 and 3 for swingingmovement of these units into and out of engagement with the uppercontacts, and so that when the units I, 2 and 3 are in closed position,said units will be inclined forwardly toward the upper contact housings1.

The insulator I3 has its pin I8 bolted to a support which, in this case,is a rigid galvanized channel iron I! provided with a rigid cross- Theattachment of the plate 2l to the channel I9 may include angle membershaving anges 2| bolted to the plate 20 and ilanges VVV22 bolted to thesides of the channel II. The

threeelower insulators I1 have their pins 23 The channel I3, wi-th itsplate 20, is fixed invertical position upon a pole, tower, orl otherstructure. In Figure 3,

The upper contact housings 1. support andV house the upper contactswhich engage the contact ferrules at the upper ends of the units I, 2and 3 when these units are in closed position.

and also roller spring latch mechanisms for locking the upper ends ofthe respective units in* closed position. These contact housings 1 arepreferably constructed of cast-hard bronze, or other suitable conductingmaterial. Each has a downwardly opening intermediate channel portion 33,provided at one end with an integral mounting flange 3| for bolting .tothe angle bar 3, and at its opposite or outer end with an integral sleethood 32 for protecting. the upper contacts -and latch mechanisms, aswell as the cooperating upper ends of theunits l, 2 and 3 when theseunits are in closed position.

The upper contact, disposed within each of the upper contact housings 1,comprises a pair of strips 35, preferably formed of hard drawn copper orother suitable conducting material. These.contact strips 35 are securedat 36 to the opposite sides of the channel portion 30 of the contacthousing 1 and extend forwardly into the hood 3 2.` Their forward endsare spread obliquely at 31 to formY contact fingers for contact with thecontact ferrule at the upper end of the respective fuse unit. Theseobliquely spread contact fingers 31 diverge upwardly as shown in Figures1 and 4 so as to have a slight lifting action upon the upper ferrules33, or at least so as to offer no restriction to free upward movement ofthese ferrules in vtheir latchreleasing operation to be hereinafterdescribed. Coiled contact springs 33, of phosphor-bronze wire or othersuitable material, are disposed between the backs of the obliquelyspread contact ends 31 and the adjacent sides of the hood 32. Thesesprings may be positioned and retained in place on short studs 43integral with the opposite sides of the hood 32. The springs 33yieldingly force the ends '31 of the contacts 35 into firm contactingengagement with the contact ferrule 33 when the fuse unit is closed. Theforce of each spring `39 acts along or intersects the line of contactbetween the obliquely spread clip nger 31 andthe contact ferrule 33. Andthe contact has a spring action, tensioned by the engagement of theupper end ofthe fuse unit therewith, which tension hasat least acomponent of action in the directionof opening movement of the fuse unitto initiate and assist in swinging the unit to open position'when thelatch for the upper end of the'fuse is released. A transversely disposedrib 4I, formed integral with the housing 1, depends between thev contactsut at lgli wall of the housing 1 which forms the top of this recess.The opposite end o! the strip 42 is t form apair ofnngers 46, whichfingers are .turned at substantially right angles tothe mounted endofthe strip 42, and support a roller 41 which turns freely upon a pin43. The pin 43 is carried by the fingers 46 and may be vheaded at itsopposite ends, or otherwise secured against displacement from thesefingers. The roller 41 may be of cold drawn copper rod, or othersuitable material, and the pin 43 may be of phosphor-bronze wire, orother suitable material. Upward movement of the roller carrying end ofthe strip 42 is limited by engagement of ythis strip with the bottomedge of the tongue 4I, which is recessed to'receive the turned portionsof the fingers 46, and the strip 42 is backed against downward swingingmovement of its roller-carrying end by a springl 43 of suitable springstock. This spring. 49 is oiset upwardly slightly at one end and securedwith the strip 42 to the housing 1 by the rivets or other fasteningdevices 44.' The free end of the spring 1`43 is preferably turned downat 53 to avoid presentation of a sharp edge to the ngers 46 in theIslight wiping action of these fingers on the end of the spring 49`underthe action of the roller spring latch.

When the fuse unit is in closed position the latch roller 41 engages alatch hook 5I on the contact ferrule 33 and thereby locks the upper endof the fuse in firm contact with the upper contacts 35. The latch hook5l is tapered at 52 so that as the fuse is swung to closed positionabout thehinged mounting at its lower end, the tapered portion of thelatch hook will engage'over the roller 41 and cam the latch down. Asthe` fuse reaches full closed position the latch roller snaps up intoengagement with the hook 5I and locks 'the ferrule 33 to the contacts31. 'I'he ferrule 33 is held against being lifted-by engagement of thehook 5I with the latch roller 41, as will hereinafter appear, and whenthe lfuse reaches closed strips 35 and limits the movement of the "freeends of these strips toward each other'under the action of the springs33,' ample clearance 42 extends into a recess 43 opening position fulllatching engagement of the roller 41 with the hook 5| is assured. Thefree turning movement of the roller 41 between the nngers 46 eliminatesfriction-in the latch during'release and engagement of the upper end ofthe fuse unit with the upper/contacts.

' For the purposes of making connection, as at 6, to the upper contacthousings 1, each of these housings is provided with an integralarchshaped bail-like member 53 of substantially circular section. Theconnector 54 is adapted for application to the top or either side of thebaillike member 53 for making connection from any angle. The housings 1,being4 connected together y electrically through the bus connector J3,the connection at 6 may be made to any one of the housings 1. In theillustrated embodiment, the connection is made to the housing 1 i'or theunit '3.

The particular connector 54 illustrated comprises a generally Ll-shapedmember 55 adapted to straddle the top or either side of the bail 53, andhaving its legs threaded to receive a nut 55. A clamping member 51 tsbetween the legs of the member 55 and is connected to the nut 56 to movein and out between these legs as the nut is threaded thereupon. clampingmember 51 is knurled orroughened and, with the connector in place on thebail ymember 53, the bared end of the line" wire 53 is inserted into themember 55 and between the the nut bell 53 and the clamping member 51,and

3 33 vof the housing -1, and is secured at 44 to the The inner surfaceof the 56 is drawn up to bind the inserted end of the line wire rmly inplace against the bail member.

The good conductivity of the housing 1 and thegood conductivity of theparts connected thereto, and the connections therefor, extend thecircuit to the contact strips 35 and also through the roller springlatch mechanism to the contact ferrule 38 when the fuse is in closedposition.

The lower brackets I4 are preferably formed of cast hard bronze, orother suitable conducting material. Each has the base 60 which is boltedat l5 to the adjacent insulator cap I6. outstanding sides 6|, and a roof62 which overhangs and protects the lower contacts 63 and the open endof the fuse against rain, snow, sleet and the like when the fuse is inopen position. When the fuse is in open position the anchoring rib 25overlies its-open end and further protects the same from the weather.One of the contacts 63 is disposed within each bracket I4. Each of thesecontacts is preferably formed of a strip of bus copper, or othersuitable material, backed by a spring 64 of suitable material, such asspring-tempered phosphor-bronze. The inner ends of the contact 63 andspring 64 are turned vertically and sei cured to the base 6I] by rivetsor other fastening devices 65 preferably formed of material of goodconductivity.

The roof 62 of the bracket has a forwardly extending channel 66, and thecontact 63 is disposed in this channel, extending forwardly therethroughand preferably inclined upwardly slightly toward its outer free end, asshown. The outer end of the contact 63 is turned downwardly with itslower end directed inwardly, and is slotted at 61 to form spring contactfingers 68 for contact,

' when the fuse is closed, with the contact arm 69 on the lower ferrule10 of the fuse device. The spring 644, the form of which correspondsgenerally with the form of the contact 53, is nested within the contact63 and has its downturned forward end bearing against the contactfingers 68 to force these fingers outwardly into flrxn contact with thecontact arm 59 when the fuse is in closed position. The contact 63 thushas a spring action tensioned by the engagement of the lower fuseferrule therewith and acting in the direction of opening movement of thefuse to assist in swinging the fuse to open position.

Each of the opposite sides 6| of each bracket i4 has a generallyvertical slot 12, shown inclined forwardly slightly toward their upperends and rounded at the top and square, with rounded corners, at thebottom. Above the lower end of each slot `12, the adjacent side wall 6Ihas an opening 13 extending from the slot 12 through the front edge ofthe side wall 6| for entry of the diametrically opposite hinge pins 14,which are formed integral with the lower fuse ferrule 10, into the slots12 to position in the thereof as shown in Figure 2, and for Vremoval ofthese pins from the slots 12. When invposi.- tion in the slots 12, thepins 14, which are of circular section, are supported to turn freely inthe lower'ends of the slots 12, and the fuse is -thus hingedly supportedby the side walls 6I for swinging movement to and from closed position.

Concentric with each pin 14 integral with the fuse ferrule 10 and curvedinthe arc of a circle about the axis of the pins 14. 'I'he pins 14project endwise beyond the flanges 15 as shown in Figure 9, and the fuseisI applied to the bracket by inverting the same to the position inwhich the unit I is shown in Figure 1, and passing the pins 14 throughthe openings 13 and into lower endsis a flange 15 hinged position in thelower ends of the slots 12, as illustrated in Figure 7. The over-alllength of the flanges 15 is less than the distance betweeny the sidewalls 6|, so that in applying the fuse these flanges 15 may pass inbetween the side walls 6l. As thus applied, with the lower end of thefuse hanging downwardly, the flanges 15 are disposed substantially asshown in Figure 7. The cooperating flanges 16, formed integral with theopposite side walls 6| of the brackets I4 and extending inwardlytherefrom, are curved in the arcs of circles about the axis ofthe pins14 when these pins are in hinged position in the slots 12, and are ofarcuate extent about as shown in Figure 7. The external radius of eachflange 16 is slightly less than the internal radius of the adjacentflange 15, and with the fuse in the position of the unit l, in Figure 1,the flanges 15 are clear of the flanges 16 and the pins 14 of the unitmay be readily lifted from the bottoms of the slots 12 and out throughthe openings 13 to remove the fuse from the bracket.

As soonas the applied fuse is swung upwardly to closed position,however, the flanges 15 travel around the flanges 16 and, by cooperationwith the flanges 16, lock the fuse against being lifted out of the hingesupport in the closing and opening movements of the fuse. Thiscooperation of the flanges 15 with'the flanges 16 also prevents liftingthe fuse out of its hinge support when the fuse is in closed position.The fuse may be lifted out ofthe hinge bracket and applied thereto onlyin inverted or substantially full open position. As the fuse reachesfull open position, the flanges 15 move to position clear of the flanges16, and in this position the fuse may be removed by lifting the pins upthrough the slots 12 and out through the openings 13.

The upwardly hooked portions 16 of the side walls 6l beneath the opening13, by their upward extension, form stops for preventing the fusefrom-dropping outof place when in open position. The cooperation of theflanges 15 with the flanges' 16, in addition to the functions alreadydescribed, serve further to take the recoil of the fuse tube uponblowing of the fuse, and with the hooked portions 18 hold the fuseagainst dropping outl drop-out and recoil stop, as well as a housing forprotecting the lower contact and the open ends gf the fuse tube whensaid tube is in open posiion. l

The base of each bracket I4- may be open at 60, and the lower end of thebracket has a tapered socket in which the larger diameter end of atapered resilient bumper I2, of rubber or other suitable material, issecured. This bumper 82 may be applied by compressing the large diameterend thereof and inserting the same into the small diameter outer end ofthe socket 6l. When inserted, the rubber will expand to the positionshownin Figure 11, and the bumper 62 is thereby secured in place. Thisbumper engages arch-shaped bail-like members` I5 The connector 54'directed upwardly and the upper end is similar to the connector 54 attheconnection 9?, and 'is adapted for application to the side or at thelower end of the unit to which connection is to be made.` The connector54 is similar to the connector 54, and corresponding parts areindicatedl by primed referencecharacters correy spondingwith thoseapplied to the connector 54.

The good conductivity of the bracket I4, and the good conductivity ofthe parts connected thereto and the connections therefor, extends thecircuit to the lower contacts 63 which engage the contact arms 69 of theferrules 10 when the respective fuse devices lare closed, and thecircuit is also. extended partially through the bracket'I4 and hingemounting to the adjacent ferrule 10.

With the contacts 03, good contact with the lower v fuse ferrules of therespective units is assured when .these units are in closed position,without 'depending on the hinge mountings for the units.

The fuse devices of the respective units I, 2

sleeve or tube 9,0, preferably formed of linen base and 3 are identical,so that, as with the upper contact housings and upper contact and rollerlatch assemblies wandthe lower brackets I4, a description of one y'willsuiiice for all. Each ofthe phenol formaldehyde tubing on a fiber liner92. At its lower; end, the outer diameter of the tube 90 vis reduced at93 to receive vthe lower contact ferrule'10, which is .preferably formedof cast .hard bronze, or other suitable conducting material. At itsupper end the outer diameter of the tube 90 is red'uced at 94 to receivethe upper ferrule 95, which is preferably formedof cast hard bronze, orother suitablelmaterial.

The ferrules 10and 95- are preferably secured to the fuse tube in themanner more fully disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No.730,075, filed June 9, 1934, now Patent No. 2,108,-

993. By .reference to the above particular fastening of these ferrulesto the tube, I do not intend to limit the present invention thereto,butmerely refer to the same 'as a suitable attachment for the presentdevice. Suiiice it to say that these attachments of the ferrules to thefuse comprise an external groove 91, formed in the upper. reduced end ofthe tube 90, and-a corne-v s'ponding groove 95 formed in the innersurface of the ferrule 95, which, when this ferrule is in place upon thetube, registers with the groove 91. A conical spring snap ring 98,formed of seamless brass tubing ,(half hard) and split at 99, engagesthe shoulder at the lower 'end of the groove 95 land the shoulder at theupper 'end of the groove 91, and anchors or secures the ferrule 95firmly sion spring II4 extended, and, in turn, thisv The iower end 9: ofthe tube su' is provided with a groove |0I, similar to the groove 91,and the inner surface of the ferrule-10 isprovided with a groove |00corresponding with the groove 98. A spring snap ring |02, split at |03,similar to the ring 90, locksor secures the lower ferrule 10 firmly inplace upon the lower reduced end of the tube 90.

'I'he upper contact ferrule 38, which is formed of cast hard bronze,L orother suitable material, is mounted for longitudinal sliding movementupon the upper end of the fuse tube 90, and is counterbored at |04 toreceive the upper reduced end of the ferrule 95. A spring wirecompression spring |05, coiled about the reduced upper end equidistantcircumferentially thereof, with. their inner reduced ends engaging inlongitudinal slots '|08 in the ferrule 95.. lThe upward movement of theferrule 38 with respect to the tube 90 is limited by engagement of thesescrewsl |01 with the upper ends of the slots |08.

The spring |05 is normally restrained in compression, and the -slldableferrule 38 is held in the position shown, by the fuse link |09. In theparticular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, thefuse link '|09 is provided with a tension or retraction spring II4 and,in this l case, the fuse link-anchors and restrains the tenspring |I4,which is stronger than spring |05, holds the spring '|05' incompression. Where the fuse link is not provided witha tension springsuch as the spring |I4, the fuse link acts directly to hold the spring|05 in--compress'ion. The fuse, therefore, mayor may not have a tensionspring corresponding to the spring II4, and, where there is no suchspring ||4, the spring |05 acts alone. In either case, it acts torelease the latch and to extend the arc upon blowing of,- thev fuse, andwhere` there is`a spring I I4 the arc L extending action is inconjunction with that of the spring II4. .l

When the spring |05 is restrained in compression by the fuse link .andthe hinge pins 14 are engaged in the bracket I4 and the fuse swung toclosed position, the contact portions |I0l of the ferrule 38 move intoengagement with the upper contact members 31 and the roller Alatchdevice 41 is sprung into engagement with the latch hook 5I to lock theferrule 38 in contact with the upper to the tube without screws or thelike, and at low cost and in a smallspace. Atthe same time, anexceptionally strong 4joint is provided between the 'tube and theferrule. In assembling these parts,

the snap ring 98 may be applied to the groove 91.

before placing the ferrule upon the tube. Then, as the ferrule is passeddown over the upper end of .the tube, the larger lower end of the snapring may be pressed into the groove 91 to permit passage of the ferruleintoplace, whereupon the ring 9 0 will spring out intothe groove 90 and,

by its engagement with the shoulder at the lower end of this groove,will anchor the ferrule firmly in place upon the tube. 1

contact members 31. When the fuse link is provided with the tensionspring |I4 and the fuse blows, the spring I I4 is released to break thearc within the small .chamber dened by the tube I 24 and, thereafter,within thelarge chamber dei fined by the outer sleeve. Thereafter thespring |05 is released, andprojects the ferrule 30 lup- 'y wardly,thereby moving .the latch hook 5| up- -wardly outof engagement with thelatch roller 41., and thefuse drops bygravity to openposition.

The fuse link, designatedin its entirety at` |09, is identical with thefuse link described and claimed in my Patent-No."2,144,70'1, issuedJanuary 24, 1939. 'Ihe upper cable terminal and spring fastener I I2,which is preferably formed from brass rod, or other suitable material,is

terminal I2 I cable I 0, which is preferably of stranded copper,

is connected to the lower cable terminal and spring fastener H1 byrigidly securing it in the socketed part H8 thereof, as by inserting itin the socket `and pressing or ilattening the socket rmly thereon andinto secure engagement therewith. The terminal and fastener II'I has ahelical groove for threaded engagement with the lower few turns of thespring H4. The terminal H1 is knurled externally at H8, and is tapped orthreaded internally at H3 for threaded engagement with the upper end ofthe upper fuse terminal |20, which is formed of copper or other suitableor preferred material.

The lower fuse terminal I2| is formed of similar material, and thisterminal and the terminal |20 are connected by a strain wire or tensileelement |22 arranged to bear the mechanical strain. The upper end of thewire |22 is inserted in a socket or opening in the lower end of theterminal |20, and is secured rigidly in place as by punching the stockof the terminal into rm binding engagement with the wire, or by atteningthe socket firmly upon the wire. The lower end of the wire |22 isinserted in a socket or opening in the terminal |2| and is securedrigidly in place as by punching the stock of this terminal into rmbinding engagement with the wire, or, as before, by attening the socketupon the wire.

The fuse wire |23 is preferably of silver, or silver alloy, and thestrain wire |22 is preferably` of nickel-chromium wire. The upper end ofthe fuse wire |23 is inserted in an opening in the terminal |20 and issecured firmly in place therein, as by punching the adjacent side of theterminal into firm -engagement therewith, or attening the same thereon.The lower end of the fuse wire |23 is inserted in an opening in theterminal |2I and may be secured firmly in place therein, as by punchingthe adjacent sides of the into rm engagement therewith, or flatteningthe same thereon. Intermediate its ends the fuse wire |23 is coiledabout the strain wire |22.

The fuse wire |23, of silver or other fusible conducting material,preferably one whose oxide is a conductor, and with the advantages setout above and in my co-pending applications above beneath this terminaland into position projecting from the lower end of the fuse tube, asillustrated in Figure 9. The tube |24 offers no impairment holds theterminals |20 and 2| rigidly against relative lateral movement such asotherwise might result in movement `or even crimping or twisting of thefuse wire |23 and/or the strain wire |22. A

The inner sleeve |24 closely surrounds the fuse terminals |20 and I 2|and the fuse element |23, for accumulation of pressure upon blowing ofthe fuse. This sleeve |24 is movable from one fuse terminal, namely, thelower terminal |2|, for elongation of the arc within the sleeve |24, andis movable from the terminal |2| to release the pressure and permit anoutward flow of gases from the sleeve |24. The sleeve |24 and the otherterminal 20 are movable further to elongate the arc.

For the purpose of setting the fuse and holding the same set, the lowerend of the terminal |2| is provided with a tail lextension |20, formedof stranded conducting cable or other suitable material. Several strandsof copper cable, preferably tinned, are employed ,in the illustratedembodiment, although this may, of course, vary widely. The upper end ofthis cable is inserted in a socket |23 on the lower end of the terminal|2|, and this socket is flattened into ilrm engagement with the cable tosecure the same therein. Within its length, the cable |20 is providedwlth a conical bushing |30, securely anchored in position upon the cableas by fiattening the upper end of the bushing at |3| into firmengagement with the cable. I'he lower conical part of the bushing |30 isengageable with a clip |32 to hold the fuse in set-position. The clip|32 is formed by a socket in the transverse web I 33 integral with thelower end of the ferrule 10 and having an opening |34 through which thecable |28 or the upper flattened end |3| of the bushing |30 is 'adaptedto be passed to engage the bushing |30 with the socket.

The extension or stranded cable |20 constitutes a tail extension which,with the spring I 05 extended and the spring I|4 retracted, extendsreferred to, and the comparatively high resistance The upper end of thetube |24 closely SurrOlmdS the upper fuse terminal |20, and is shrunk orcrimped at |25 into the annular ,groove |20 to close-the upper end ofthe tube |24 against access of atmosphere to the silver fusible element:and to secure this tube to the upper fuse terminal |20 so that it willmove therewith toward the other end of the outer sleeve when the fusibleelement fuses. The lower end of the tube |24 passes freely over andclosely surrounds the lower fuse terminal |2I and extendsdown t0 'aPosition 75 down below the lower end of the fuse'casing 30 for settingthe fuse and placing the spring I |4 under tension and the spring |05under compres-v sion. With the spring |05 extended and the spring ||4retracted, the ferrule 30, in its upper position, and the fuse link |03,applied as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the setting of the fuse isaccomplished by grasping the downwardly extending tail extension |20 andpulling the same downwardly against the springs |05 and |4 until theconical bushing |30 is positioned below or clear of the bottom of theclip |32. The cable |20, above the bushing |30, is then passed throughthe opening |34. Then, upon releasing the tail extension |20, thesprings Ill and H4 draw the bushing |30 up firmly into the clip formingsocket |32, and this cooperation of the bushing with this socket holdsthe spring H4 extended and the spring |05 in compression with the fusein set position.

Where the fuse link is of a type or manufacture which does not have aconical anchoring bushing,' then the lower end of such fuse link may beanchored to a screw 250 threaded into `the cross-web 25| integral withthe lower end of the ferrule 10, as lshown particularly in Figures 9, 19and 20. For the purpose of holding such tail extension |28' (Figures 19and 20) out as shown in Figures -19 and 20, and the lugs are of lengthsto hold the tail extension out of objectionable engagement with thethreads of the screw 250. The clamping piece 253 is arranged between thelugs 252 and clamped to the sides of the looped or bight portion of thetail ex-- tension |28' arranged about the lugs 2,52.

In either case, that is. with the` fuse link anchored to the clip |32 orto the screw 250, a circuit is established from the ferrule 38, upperfrom the latch roller 41, and the fuse unit drops to open position fromthe position occupied by the unit 2 in Figure 2 .to substantially theposition occupied by the unit The opening movement is limited byengagement of the fuse unit with the resilient bumper 82. The droppingof the fuse to open position removes the upper fuseterminal from theupper contacts 31, thereplacing an air gap or air dielectric between perfuse terminal and the upper contacts 3|. This removes any possiblevoltage stress upon the'surface of the tube, which is important inoutdoor use. At the same time, the dropped down or open position of thefuse semaphores cable terminal and spring fastener ||2, stranded yconductor H8, lower cable terminal and spring fastener ||1, upper fuseterminal |20, fuse link and strain wire assembly |23, |22, lower fuseterminal |2|, stranded conductor |28, bushing |30 and clip |32 to thelower ferrule 10. The tail extension |28, below the conical bushing |30,may be cut oil or otherwise removed' after the fuse is set, as abovedescribed, but it is to be understood th-at this removal of a part orall of the tail extension for setting the fuse is not necessary withinthe scope of the present invention.

The fuse shown and described is a spring type expulsion fuse. Theferrule 38 has an upwardly extending portion |38 externally threaded toreits blown condition.

The` spring ||4 in collapsing'on blowing of the fuse link |09impartskinetic energy into certain of its turns and into the terminalsand |20 and the remaining parts attached thereto. This kinetic energy isdissipatedwhenthe spring I4 goes solid against the cap |40 so that ahammer-like blow is struck against the ferrule 38. This blow tends todislodge the ferrule 38 if for any reason it has become stuck sc thatthe compression spring |05 is unable to move it to latch releasingposition. It will be apparent that the force which applies the hammerblow substantially exceeds the force applied to the fuse link |09 by thespring ||4 and may be greater than the force which the fuse link |09could withstand without being mechanically ruptured. By utilizing thekinetic energy, as set forth, it is unnecessary to construct the fuselink |09 to receive a cap |40, formed of cast hard bronze or othersuitable material, and when in place, binding the button ||3 iirmlyuponthe upper end of this externally threaded por-tion of the ferrule 38.The upper and lower sides of the convolutions of the spring |I4 may beflattened, as described and claimed in my copending application, SerialNo. 730,075, filed June 9, 1934,

sistany force except that applied by the spring ||4 and yet a greaterforce than 'this is available for assisting in the unlatching function.

To reset the fuse after, blowing, the blown fuse is removed from thehinge bracket |4. For

the purpose of removing the blown fuse from the now Patent No.2,108,993, and the stranded conductor I0 may be wound into a helix in adirection counter to the lay of the strands of the conductor and placedwithin a spring ||4 wound into a helix in the direction of the lay ofthe strands of the conductor or counter to the winding of the conductor,as also described and claimed in my co-pending application .abovereferred to, although this is not necessary.

The cylinder ortube |24, which encloses th fuse element |23 and strainwire |22, confines the arc in a very small space and minirni-zescharring and spattering on the tube linerv 92. The attachment of theclosed end of this tube to the movable terminal prevents too .freeaccess of atmosphere to the fusible link and maintains the closure uponfusing of the link and movement of the movable fuse terminal. Thedownward extension of the tube |24, below the ferrule 10, may performthe function of Vgiving a visual indication when the fuse has blown.

Upon blowing of the fuse, the spring ||4 is-re- "leased and draws theterminals ||1 and |20 and the tube |24` upwardly, which forms andextends the arcing'gap rst within the tube |24 .andy then within thevouter tube. At the same time, ythe spring' |05 is released and moves theupper contact ferrule 38 upwardly. This upward movement of' the contactferrule 3,8, by reason of the'. cooperation of the upper end of thisferrule with the b'utton ||3, acts cumulatively with rapidly. The upwardmovement of the contact bracket, the lower ferrule 10 is provided withan integral manipulating eye or ring |50 which,

with the fuse in open position as shown in Figure 2,'-is exposedoutwardly to receive the end of a hook stick |5| for lifting the fuseout of the l bracket |4 and applying the same tothe bracket after thefuse link has been renewed.

For the purpose of manually releasing the latch hook 5| from the latchroller 41, for opening and closing movement of the fuse about its hingepins 14, with the fuse link operatively in set position, a pull-eye orring and latch release |53 is provided for each of the fuse units. Thispull ring and latch release |53 may be formed of cast hard bronze orother suitable material, and comprises a fork |54 formed integral withthe eye |53. The arms of this fork |54 straddle the fixed upper ferrule95 and the fork is pivoted at '|55 to a. lug |56 integralvwith theferrule 95. The free ends of the arms of the fork |54 engage theenlarged lower end of the ferrule 38 so that, byv inserting the end ofva hook stick into the eye. |53 and exerting a downward pull, the freeends of the fork |54 are swung upwardly (Fig. `2) and from themtcn'rouer 41. The fuse wm then drop to open position, or it may bemanipulated to I. open or closed positions by the engagement of thespring H4 to form and extend the are the hook stick in`the.eye |53. Forthe purpose of maintaining the arms o1 the fork |54 against or inproximity to the bottom of the ferrule 38 when the eye |53 is'in theposition shown in Figure `2, this eye is provided with an integral arm|58 which, as the free ends of the arms |54 of the pull ring and latchrelease are swung downwardly by the action of the spring I4 when the eye|53 is released, engages the ferrule 38, substantially as shown in Fig.2, and prevents the arms of lthe fork |54 from dropping away from thelower end of the ferrule. The arm |58 also, by its downward engagementwith the shoulder |58 on the ferrule 38, under the action of the spring|05 on the arms of the fork |54, holds the ferrule 38 down so that itwill not be lifted up by .engagement with the latch roller 41.

The reclosing switch or transfer device 4 serves to switch the circuitfrom the fuse to the fuse 2 upon blowing of the fuse and the switch ortransfer device 5 serves to switch the circuit 'fromthe fuse 2 to thefuse 3 upon blowing of the fuse 2. These switch or transfer devices arepositioned in proximity to the lower ends of the respective fuse unitsand each is operated directly by the opening movement of the fuse. Thesedevices are identical, so that a description of one v will suiiice forboth.

Each of said devices 4 and 5 `comprises a bracket arm formed of casthard bronze or other suitable conducting material and fastened by boltsor screws (not shown) iirmly upon and in good contact with the adjacentside wall 8| of the bracket 4. Fixed at |11 in the outer end of the arm|15 is a pin |18 upon which the contact lever |80 is swingably mounted.At its swingably mounted end the lever |80, which is formed of cast hardbronze or other suitable conducting material, has an integral annularvflange |8| closed at one end at |82. The opposite end of the flange |8|fits over and turns upon a flange |83 integral with the arm |15. Torestrain swinging movement of the lever |80 and'hold it from dropping,for example, from the position shown in Figure 11, a pair of dishedspring washers |84 are arranged back-to-back within the flange |8| andbetween the closed end |82 and the flange |88 on the arm |15. Thesespring washers are clamped to the desired lever-holding relation by acontact nut |85 threaded upon the pin |18 which passes centrally throughthe washers |84. The nut |85 is castellated at |86 to receive a pin |81for locking it in place. The pin |81 is engageable in different notchesin the outer end of the hub of the nut, which permits adjusting thetension in the washers |84 and securing the nut in any desired adjustedposition.

Secured as by'pressed fit in a socket |88 in one side of the lever |80,toward its outer end, is a pin |89. In the case of the switch ortransfer device 4 this pin |89 projects, when the lever |80 ispositioned as shown in Figure 11, across the path of opening movement ofthe fuse |.r When the fuse element of the fuse blows, the latch at theupper end is released and the fuse drops by gravity to open position.Toward the limit of the opening movement of the fuse the lug 220 on theferrule 10 strikes the pin |89 and swings the lever |80 in a clockwisedirection about its pivot |18, as indicated by the arrow |90 in ,Fig-

ure 1l.

Intermediate its ends the opposite side of the lever 80 is provided witha lug |9| formed integral therewith and projecting laterally therefrom.A contact arm |92 has the free end of its fiat leg |93 secured, as b,vmeans ot. rivets |94, rmly to the lug |9| and in good contact therewith.The arm 92 is formed of cast hard bronze or other suitable conductingmaterial and its other leg is curved as shown at |95 in Figure 11, andthe free end of this curved leg of the contact arm is provided with agenerally cylindrical contact |98.-

The opposing side 8| of the next adjacent bracket |4 has a. contactbracket |98 fastened firmly thereon and inV good contact therewith, asby means of screws or bolts |99. Fastened at 200 to the laterallyextending arm of the bracket |98 is a housing 20| for the reclosingcontact. The bracket |98 and the housing 20| are formed of cast hardbronze or other suitable conducting material. When the housing 20| is inplace its top is closed by the lateral arm of the bracket |98 and itsbottom is open at 202 to permit the contact arm 92 to move up into anddown out of engagement with the reclosing contact 205 disposed Withinthe housing 20|. The housing 20|, being open only at the bottom,.effectively encloses and protects the reclosing contact 205, as well asthe spring 208 and the cooperating contact portion of the reclosinglever when this lever is in reclosing position.

The contact 205, which is preferably formed of bus copper, or othersuitable conducting material, is of generally inverted U-shaped form,with its depending legs turned up at 208 and curved on a radius toreceive the Contact |98 upon movement of the lever to reclosingposition. The curvature of the upturned contact portions 208 ispreferably in the arc of movement of the contact |98, and the arm |92 ispreferably curved in the arc of movement of the contact |98, so as toclear the lower overlapping ends of the reclosing contact 205 when thecontact |98 is in reclosing engagement with the contact 205. Theupturned Contact ends 208 are normally spaced closer than thewidth ofthe contact |98,4 to be tensioned against the contact |98 upon movementof the same upwardly therebetween. The upper ends of the contactportions 208 are backed by a spring 208 nested within the contact 205and secured, with this contact, at 209, to the bottom of the lateral armof the bracket |98. I'his spring ls of generally inverted U-shaped form,with its depending legs converging upwardly and secured together at 2|0.The V-shaped portion of the spring engages and presses the upper ends ofthe contact portions 208 toward each other and yieldingly opposesseparation of these contact portions under the action of the contactarm. The depending legs of the contact 205 and the upturned contactportion 208 are slotted at 208' to form spring contact ilngers forrelatively great resiliency of contact with the arm |95. The dependingsides and upturned ends of the spring 208 are similarly slotted at 208'.

The outer end of the reclosing contact lever |80 has a hook eye 2| 2 formanually resetting the lever in open position as shown in Figure 11. Aradial finger 2|3, integral with the lever |80, by engagement with anintegral stop 2|4 on the bracket |'|5 limits the opening movement of thelever |80 in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 11 andpositions this lever for operation directly by the opening movement ofthe associated fuse.

With the parts in the positions shown diagrammatically in Figure '14,the line wires connected at 8 and 8, and the levers |80 in the positionshown in Figure 11, the operation is as follows:

Upon blowing of the fuse the spring ||4 is released and the upper fuseterminal |20 and inner insulating member |24 aremoved upwardly tolengthen the arc first within the bore of the inner insulating member|24 and later within the bore of the outer insulating tube. At the sameA.Mlllllll time the spring los areieased and this'sprmg movesthe upperIerrule 38 upwardly along the upper end of the tube of the fuse l torelease the hook 5| from the roller latch 41. This spring |05 actscumulatively with the spring ||4 to form and extend the arc. Uponrelease of the latch at the upper end of the unit l this unit drops bygravity to open position and toward the limit of its 'opening movementthe lug 220 on the lower ferrule 10 swings toward and overrides the pin|89 and swings the reclosing lever |80 to reclosing position with thecontact pin |98 engaging the reclosing contact 206 within the housingofthe next unit 2. The circuit is thereby switched auto-'- matically tothe next fuse unit 2. The overriding of lug 220 on pin |89 prevents thefuse trunnions 14 from jumping out of the slot 13 after flanges 'l5 andcams 'i6 drop out of register. The fuse tube swings until it hits bumper82 carrying arm |80 `with it to that point. The fuse tube drops back toits lowermost or substantially vertical position, disengaging lug 220from pin |88.

This second unit 2 will remain closed if, in the meanwhile, current rlowhas been reduced, but il current flow is still excessive this `device 24blows and the upper ferrule moves upwardly to release the latch at theupper end of the tube. The iusel vtube2 thereupon drops to open positionand by its opening movement closes the switch 5 and therebyautomatically switches the circuit to the next fuse unit 3. This thirdunit 3 iscapable of interrupting the circuit in the manner of the unitsI and 2 if the current flow is still excessive, and in such case dropsto the open position shown in Figure 17. v

To reset any one or all of the blown fuse units a hook stick is'appliedto the eye |50 and the fuse unit lifted from its bracket i4. The blownfuse link is replaced with a new fuse link, which isset with the spring|05 compressed, the spring lil extended, and the tail extension securedto the clip |32. The fuse is then mounted in inverted position initsbracket Il and swung upwardly to engage its upper 'end with the uppercontact` means, whereupon the latch at the upper end o perates to latchthe fuse in closed'position. The hook stick is engaged with the eyes ofthe reclosing levers |80 and these levers swung to open positionsubstantially as shown in Figure 1,1.

IfA it is desired to open one or more of the fuse units with the fuselinks in set condition and without beingblown,l the operator applies thehook stick to the eye |53 and by downward pull on the same moves theferrule '38 upwardly to release the hook catch 5| from the latch l1. Theruse unit then drops, or may be swung downwardly to open position andback to closed position, manually, as desired.

While I have shown and described my invenvtion with reference to theparticular details of construction of one embodiment, it is to beunderstood that the invention may appear in different forms and withmodifications and varia-v tions such as will suggest themselves to oneskilled in the art, .and it is to be understood that I conaider all suchmodincations and variations tobe included within the scope of myinvention.

I claim: I

1. In combination, an upper contact, a lower contact, a fuse havingcontacts engageable with said upper contact and lower contactrespectively and hinged at its lower end to swing solely by angularmotion about said hinge downwardly to open position, and switch means inproximity to the lowerend of said fuse and closed directly by-thecontinued.movement of the fuse when it swings downwardly about saidhinge to open position.

2. In combination, upper contacts, lower conf tacts, fuse devices havingcontacts engageable with said first contacts and hinged at their lower lends to swing solely by angular motion about said hinge downwardly toopen position, reclos- .ing contact means connected to the lower contactfor one of said fuse devices, a reclosing lever pivoted adjacent thelower end of another of said fuse devices and provided with a contactconnected electrically with the lower contact for4 said latter fusedevice, and means on said reclosing lever and adapted to be positionedin the 4path of downward swinging movement of said fuse device forswinging'the contact of said lever into engagement .with said reclosingcontact means by the downward swinging movement of said fuse device.

3. In combination. a pair of lower brackets, a-

pair of fuse devices one hinged to each of said brackets to swingdownwardly to open position, a reclosing contact housing secured to oneof said brackets and comprising. a weather protection for the reclosingcontacts therein, a reclosing con-- tact within said housing, areclosing lever pivoted to the other bracket and having means adapted tobe positioned in the` path of downward swinging movement of the adjacentfuse device, and a contact carried by said lever and swingable into andout of the reclosing contact fhousing and into and out of engagementwith the reclosing contact therein.

4. In combination, upper contacts, lower contacts, fuse devices havingcontacts engageable with said iirst contacts and hinged at their lowerends to swing downwardly to open position, a

reclosing contactconnected to the lower contact I for onevof said fusedevices, a reclosing leverpivoted ladjacent the lower end of another ofsaid fuse devices and providedwith a contact connected electrically withthe lower contact of said latter fuse device and swingable intoengagement with the reclosing contact by the' downward swinging movementof the fuse device, latch devices for latching the upper ends of thefuse devices to the upper contacts, and ferrules slidable upon the upperends of said fuse devices vand having latch means engageable with saidlatch devices, the latch means on said ferrules being released from saidlatch devices by upwardA sliding movement of ,said ferrules on said'fuse devices.

5. In combination, an upper contact, a lower contact, a fuse havingcontacts engageable with said first contacts and hinged at its lower endto swing downwardly to open position, a contact housing in proximity tothe lower end of the fuse,

' a contact in said housing said housing comprising a weather protectionfor the contact therein, and a lever pivoted in'proximity to the lowerend of the fuse and having a contact swlngable into engagement with saidlast contact by the openingmovement of the fuse.

6. In combination, a fuse comprisinga fuse tube, a contact ferrule onsaid tube, means for latching the fuse to a cooperating contact, andmeans for moving said ferrule longitudinally on said tube to releasesaid latching means.

1. In combination, a fuse comprising a fuse tube, a contact ferrulemovable on the upper end of 'said tube, means for latching the 'upperend of the fuse to a cooperating contact, and a com- 75 pression springreacting against said ferrule for moving the same upwardly along saidtube to release said latching means.

8. In combination, a fuse comprising a fuse tube, a contact ferrulemovable on the upper end of said tube, means for latching the upper endof said fuse to a cooperating contact, a compression spring reactingagainst said ierrule for moving the same upwardly along the tube torelease said latching means, a contact ferrule on the lower end of thetube, and a fuse link connected electrically between said ierrules andrestraining said compression spring.

9. In combination, a fuse comprising a fuse tube, a contact ferrulemovable on the upper end of said tube, means for latching the upper endof said fuse to a cooperating contact, a cornpression spring coiledabout said tube and reacting against said ferrule for moving the sameupwardly along the tube to release said latching means, a contactferrule on the lower end of the tube, a fuse link connected electricallybetween said ferrules and restraining said compression spring, said fuselink comprising an inner insulating member having a bore of relativelysmall diameter, terminals, and a fuse element closely surrounded by thebore oi' the inner member, one Vterminal forming a permanent closure forone end of the bore of the inner insulating member, and means for movingsaid latter terminal and the inner insulating member in the direction ofexpansion of said compression spring to lengthen the arc first withinthe bore of the insulating member and later within the bore of the fusetube upon blowing of the fuse. v

10. In combination, a fuse comprising a fuse tubea contact ferrulemovable on the upper end of the tube, a contact ferrule on the lower endof the tube, a fuse link connected electrically to said ferrules andanchored at one end on the upper ferrule, said link comprising an innerinsulating member having a bore of relatively'small diameter, terminals,and a fuse element closely surrounded by the bore of the inner member,one terminal yforming a permanent closure for one end of the bore of theinner insulating member, a

retraction spring connected between said last terminal andthe anchoredend of the fuse link for moving said latter terminal and the innerinsulating member in a direction to lengthen the arc first within thebore of the inner insulating member and later within the bore of thefuse tube upon blowing of the fuse, and a compression spring coiledabout the tube and reacting against the movable ferrule to move saidferrule and the anchored end of the fuse link in the di- -rection ofretraction of said rst spring upon blowing of the fuse, said last springbeing normally restrained by said fuse link.

11. In combination, a fuse tube, a ferrule xed upon said tube, a secondferrule movable along the tube and having a portion fitting over saidfirst ferrule, said rst ferrule being slotted longltudinally, means onsaid second ferrule and en- "gaging the slotted portion of said ilrstferrule for guiding said second ferrule longitudinally along the tube,and a compression spring reacting between said ferrules for moving thesecond ferrule longitudinally along the tube.

12. In combination, a fuse tube, a ferrule fixed upon said tube, asecond ferrule movable along the tube and having a portion ntting oversaid ilrst ferrule, said rst ferrule being slotted longigaging theslotted portion of said rst ferrule for the tube, a compression springreacting between said fer-rules for moving the second ferrulelongitudinally along the tube, and a fuse link extending through thetube and anchored to said second ferrule normally to restrain saidspring.

13. In combination, a fuse tube. a contact ferrule slidable on saidtube, and laterally extendlnglatchmeans on the outside of said contactferrule.

14. In combination, a fuse tube, a contact ferrule movable on said tube,a fuse link having a button seated on the end of the movable ferrule, acap threaded on said ferrule over said button for clamping the same tosaid ferrule, and a spring reacting against said ierrule for moving theferrule and the anchored end of the fuse link longitudinally of the fusetube.

l5. In combination, a contact bracket, a pair of laterally spacedcontact members secured to said bracket and having free ends spreadobliquely, and coiled springs between the obliquely spread ends of saidcontact members and the sides of the bracket.

16. In combination, a contact bracket, a pair of laterally spacedcontact members secured to said bracket and having free ends spreadobliquely, coiled springs between the obliquely spread ends of saidcontact members and the sides of the bracket, and a latch device securedto said bracket in position between said contact members.

1'7.I In combination', a contact bracket, a pair of laterally spacedcontact members secured to said bracket and having free ends spreadobliquely, coiled springs between the obliquely spread ends of saidcontact members and the sides of the bracket, a latch device secured'tosaid bracket in position between said contact members, and a hood onsaid bracket protecting the obliquely spread ends of said contactmembers and said latch device.

18. In combination, a bracket having a contact, a fuse movable into andout oi' engagement with said contact, latch means on said fuse, a latcharm secured to said bracket, and a latch roller carried by said arm andengageable with the latch means on the i'use.

19. In combination, a contact bracket having a hood, a contact withinsaid hood, a latch within said hood, a fuse hinged at its lower end andswingable at its upper end into and out of said hood, a contact ferruleslidable on the upper end of the fuse and engageable with the contactwithin the hood, and latch means on said terrule for engagement with thelatch means in the hood.

20. In combination, a pair of laterally spaced spring contacts havingobliquely turned ends, and a fuse tube swingable into and out otengagement with the spring contacts, said tube having a contact providedwith surfaces cooperating with the obliquely turned ends of thecontacts, said obliquely turnted contactends having faces oblique to theaxis of the fuse tube and having a spring action tensioned by theengagement of the fuse-therewith and acting in the direction of openingmovement ot the fuse to permit tree motion of the fuse tube contactaxially and laterally away tromusaid spring contacts.

21. In combination, a bracket, a contact connected to said bracket,4 abail member integral with said bracket and a U-shaped bolt hookedtudinally, means on said second ferrule and enover and slidable alongsaid bail for connecting a conductor to the bracket from differentangles.

22. In combination, a hinge bracket having side walls provided withgenerally vertical slots opening` forwardly above their lower ends. afuse tube provided with a ferrule having hinge pins adapted to be passedthrough said forwardly directed openings andinto hinged position in thelower ends of said slots, and cooperating flanges on the ferrule and' onthe sides of the bracket overlapping axially of the hinge pins fortaking the, recoil upon blowing of the Iuse and preventing liftwallsprovided with generally vertical slots opening forwardly above theirlower ends, a fuse tube -the recoil upon blowing of the fuse andpreventing lifting of the fuse from the bracket except in open positionof the fuse, said anges being curved in the arcs of circles about theaxis of the hinge pins and 'the flange on the ferrule clearing theflanges on the bracket in open position of the fuse so that the fuse maybe lifted from the bracket.

24. In combination, a hinge bracket havingside walls provided withgenerally vertical slots opening forwardly above their lower ends, afuse tube provided with a ferrule having hinge pins adapted to be passedthrough said forwardly directedopenings and into hinged position in thelower ends of said slots, cooperating flanges on the ferrule and on thesides of the bracket for taking the recoil upon blowing of the fuse andpreventing lifting of the fuse from the bracket except in open positionof the fuse, said flanges being curved. in the arcs of circles about theaxis of the hinge pins and the flange on the ferrule clearing theflanges on the bracket in open position of the fuse so that the fuse maybe lifted from the bracket, and a contact member mounted on said bracketand. having a spring action tensioned by the engagement of the fusetherewith and acting in the direction of opening movement of the fuse toaid in swinging the fuse to open position, said bracket having anoverhanging housing protecting the contact and the end of the fuse tubewhen the fuse is in open position.

25. In combination, a bracket arm having a flange, a pin carried by saidarm, a reclosing lever swingable about the axis of said pin andl havingan annular flange coaxial with said pin and fiting vof the fuse from thebracket except in open .A position ofthe fuse.

23. In combination, a hinge bracket having side movable ferrule forengagement with 'saidiirst latch means. means yieldingly holding saidlatch means in engagement and said ferrule against releasing movement, asecond ferrule xeduponA said tube adjacent said first ferrule, amanually operable arm pivoted to said second .ferrule and cooperablewith said first ferrule to move same manually to released position, andmeans on said arm for maintaining the same in position for cooperationwith said first ierrule and for locking the ferrule against -upwardmovement by engagement of the latch means thereon with said first latchmeans. y

, 28. A contact comprising a conducting strip of generally U-shaped formwith the lower ends of its depending. legs turned upwardly in spacedrelation to form contact portions for receiving and engagingl a movablecontact, and a spring oi' fiat stock having an inverted V-shaped portionhaving the portions at the apex fixed together and having its upwardlyconverging sides engaging the upper ends of the upturned contactportions of said contact to tension the same. i

29. In combination, a contact terminal, a fuse comprising a fuse tubehaving a contact engageable with said contact terminal, a fuse linkdisposed within said tube and comprising an inner insulating memberhaving a bore of relatively small diameter, terminals, and a fuseelement closely surrounded by the bore of the inner member, and meansfor forming and extending the arc iirst within said inner member andlater Within the fuse tube upon-blowing of the fuse, said fuse beingmovable out of engagement with said contact terminal and to openposition to interpose an air dielectric between the fuse and saidcontact terminal.

ting over and turning on the flange onsaid` bracket, and means disposedwithin the ange on said reclosing lever and acting between said leverandthe flange on said bracket for restraining swinging movement of saidlever.

26. In combination, a contact, a fuse hinged at its lower end and havingat its upper end a movable i'errule engageable with said contact, latchmeans for latching the upper end of said fuse to said contact. latchmeans onsaid movable ferrule for engagement with said first latch means,means yieldingiy holding said latch means in engagementl and saidferrule against vreleasing movement, and a manually operable arm 30. Incombination, a contact terminal,a fuse able with said contact'l terminaland arranged to drop to-open position, means for latching the fuse tosaid contact terminal, a fuse link disposed within said iusey tube andcomprising an inner insulating member having a bore of relatively smalldiameter, terminals, and a fuse element closely surrounded by the boreof the inner member, one terminal forming a permanent closure for oneend of thebore of the inner lnsulating member, means for moving saidlatter terminal and said inner insulating member to extend the arc firstwithin said inner member and later within the fuse tube upon blowing ofthe fuse, and means for releasing said latch means to permit the fuse todrop to open position and interpose an air dielectric between thefuseand said contact terminal.

31. In combination, a 'fuse tube, a fuse link within said tube, a springwithin said tube for extending the arc at said fuse link upon blowing ofthe fuse, and a separate spring externally oi said tube and arranged toact cumulatively with said iirst spring to extend the arc upon blowingof the fuse.

first within the inner arcing chamber and later end a movable ferruleengageable with said'contact, latch means for latching the upper end ofsaid fuse to said contact, latch means on said withintne fuse tube uponblowing of the '-fuse, and a separate spring normally restrained by saidiirst'spring, said second spring acting, upon release of said firstspring, to move the anchored end of said nrst spring in 'a kdirectionfurther to extend the arc.

path of movement of said tube 33. In combination, a ruse tube, a fuselink within said tube, a tension spring within the tube for extendingthe arc at said fuse link upon blowing of the fuse, and a compressionspring externally of said tension spring for thereafter furtherextending the arc.

.34..In combination, a stationary contact terminal, a dropout fuseengageable therewith at one end, a latch for latching the dropout fuseto said contact terminal, a fuse link in said fuse including a sleeve ofinsulation and a fusible element therein, and a spring restrained bysaid fuse link and operable upon blowing thereof to release said latchand extend the arc.

35. In combination, a fuse tube, a contact ferrule movable on said tube,latch means for said contact ferrule, a compression spring externally ofthe fuse tube for releasing said latch means, and a tension springwithin the fuse tube for extending the arc and normally restraining saidfirst spring. l

36. In combination, a fuse tube hinged at one end, a contact ferruleslidably movable on said tube at the other end, and a spring contactengageable with said ferrule upon opposite sides thereof and having acomponent of action upon said ferrule in the direction of the slidingmovement of the ferrule. f

37. In combination, a contact terminal, a fuse tube movable to open andclosed positions and provided with a slidable ferrule engageable inclosed position with said terminal, latch means for latchng said ferruleto said terminal, said latch means being released by upward slidingmovement of said ferrule, said terminal comprising' spaced yieldingcontact members having free ends spread obliquely-for engagement withthe ferrule and diverging upwardly.

38. In combination, a contact terminal, a fuse tube swingable to openand closed positions and having a contact ierrule movable thereon andengageable with said contact terminal in closed position of the fuse, alatch for latching' the fuse in closed position, a spring for moving theferrule upwardly along the fuse to release said latch, and means forholding said ferrule against upward movement on the fuse by theengagement of the latch in closing the fuse.

39. In a device of the class described, the combination of a verticallymounted fuse tube automatically releasable at its upper end, said tubehaving a trunnion atl its lower end, a switch operating lever pivotallymounted adjacent said trunnion and having means adapted to be engaged bythe tube when the same swings downwardly for moving the lever angularly,said lever bearing a contact member normally below said pivot, and aseparately supported switch jaw facing downwardly and aligned with saidcontact member, a sleet hood for said jaw, said Vhood opening downwardlysaid contact member being caused to rise under the hood into engagement-with said jaw and to be gripped thereby as the' lever is carrieddownwardly by said fuse tube.

40. In combination, a drop-out fuse tube mounted on a trunnion pivot atits lower end for swinging motion \solely about said trunnion, a switchhaving a pivoted operating means in the 'when it swings about saidtrunnion, said switchcomprising a pair of jaws and a contact adaptedtobe forced between and gripped by the jaws by swinging of said tubepast its lowermost position, said tube returning byggravity to itslowermost position and being then disconnected from said switchoperating means.

41. In a drop-out ruse, a' fuse tube having an open ferrule with ai'lxed trunnion at its lower end, a slidable closed ferrule at its upperend, a fuse link connecting the two ferrules and holding the upperferrule against movement, means limiting the travel of the upperferrule, said upper ferrule having contact surfaces tapered horizontallyand vertically, and cooperating spring contacts also taperedhorizontally and vertically, whereby movement of the ferrule verticallyor horizontally releases it from the spring contact.

42. The combination of claim 41 with a stationary detent and a latchmounted on the ierrule, said latch being released from the detent uponupward movement of the upper ferrule.

43. The combination of claim 41, characterized by the provision of aspring normally restrained by the fuse link for releasing said latchfrom said detent upon blowing of the fuse link.

44. In a drop-out fuse, a stationary contact, a pivoted fuse tube havingan open lower end and a cap at the upper end, a stationary contact forengaging said cap, said tube being provided with a ferrule at its lowerend and a pivotal mounting to permit the tube to swing outwardly anddownwardly to disconnect said cap from said stationary contact when lthefuse link melts, and a spring stressed fuse link disposed wholly withinsaid tube, said link operating to interrupt current ilow through thedevice before the cap leaves engagement with the stationary contact.whereby arcing between the stationary contact and the cap is avoided.

45. In a circuit interrupting device, two ilxed terminals, a fuse' tubehaving outside end terminals, and inside terminals connected with saidoutside end terminals, a fusible link Joining said inside terminals,means for holding said end terminals in contact with said fixedterminals until said fusible link blows, means for tensioning said fuselink and for separating the inner terminals to extinguish the arcpromptly when said fusible link blows, means f or releasing one endterminal from its corresponding ilxed terminal after the fuse blows tointroduce an air gap after the arc is extinguished to prevent restoringof the circuit, the tension upon the link being independent of theholding and releasing means.

46. In a circuit interrupting device. a fusible link, means fortensioning the link and for lengthening the arc on blowing to helpextinguish it, and means Ai'or introducing an air gap in series with thelink after the arc is extinguished to prevent restoring of the circuit,the tension upon the link before blowing being independent vof the meansfor introducing the air 88D.

47. In a dropout fuse, stationary mounting terminals, a fusedeviceicomprising a fuse tube having a ferrule at one end and a pivotalmounting at its other end cooperating with said mounting terminals, alink comprising a fusible portion, said link connecting said ferruie andsaid pivotal mounting, a spring lying within the tube for tensioningsaid fusible portion, said stationary 'terminals having means fordisconnecting the .adjacent the closed end whereby the vapors causedupon blowing of the fusible portion are very rapidly expelled from thebore of the tube in a direction opposite that of the travel of thespring.

49. In combination with a fusible link, a fuse tube hinged at its lowerend to swing on a single transverse axis and having 'a tube .contact atits upper end movable axially when the fusible link melts, a pair ofcontact fingers lying on opposite sides of the axis of the tube and en-4gaging the contact and having faces pressing against the contact, eachwith an axial component of pressure and a lateral component 'of pressurewhereby a good wiping contact is made by forcing thel tube contactagainst said contact' fingers, the faces of the contact fingers beingoblique to vaxial motion and to lateral motion of the tube contact,whereby the tube contact iseasily freed from the contact fingers whenthe fusible link melts, and means for moving the contact axially whenthe fusible link melts.

50. In a dropout fuse, a fuse tube, a pair of mounting contacts one ofwhich provides a pivotal mounting for the tube the other of whichprovides a catch shoulder, the fuse tube having an upper terminal memberprovided with a catch shoulder cooperable with the catch shoulder on thecontact, said upper terminal member being movable on the fuse tube torelease the catch shoulders, a fuse link in -said tube connected to saidupper terminal member normally holding the said terminal member toprevent disengagement of said shoulders, said link embodying a fusibleelement and a spring for separating the ends of the element upon meltingof the element, and manually operable means for moving the terminalmember against the stress of said spring to disengage said element isintact.

51. In a dropout fuse, a mounting contact embodying a catch shoulder, afuse tube having a terminal member movably mounted on one end thereofand provided with a catch shoulder cooperable -with the first catchshoulder for holding said tube terminal member against disengagernentfrom the contact spring means tending to move said shoulders out ofengagement, and

'a spring tensioned link in the tube fastened to the terminal member tohold it against disengaging movement.

52. A repeating fuse construction comprising a plurality of drop-outfuse units, each unit comprising a body portion having stationarycontacts, a fuse tube having spaced contacts normally engaging saidstationary contacts and hinged at its lower end to swing solely byangular motion about said hinge downwardly to open position, a fuse linkfor each fuse tube normally restraining the rotation thereof, and aswitch carried by each preceding fuse unit and closable directly by theforce due to the rotation of the corresponding fuse tube for connectingthe next succeeding fuse unit in circuit.

,gageable with said contact terminal, a fuse link- Adisposed within saidtube and comprising an tact engagement with said contact terminal, meanscontrolled by said fusible element` and operative onblowing thereof forproducing relative movement of said sleeve and said tube to, y

release Saidlatching means.

54. In combination, a contact terminal, afuse' comprising a fuse tubehaving a contacteninner insulating member having a bore of relativelysmall diameter, terminals, and a fuse element closely surrounded by thebore of the inner member, and spring means inside of said fuse tube andconnected to said link whereby the arc formed on blowing of said fuseelement is extended within said fuse tube, said fuse being movable outof engagement with said contact terminal and to open position tointerpose an air dielectric therebetween.

55. In combination, a contact'terminal, a fuse comprising a fuse tubehaving a contact at one end engageable with said contact terminal, a

v fuse link disposed within said tube and comthe shoulders while Iprising an inner insulating member having a bore of relatively smalldiameter, terminals, and a fuse element closely surrounded by the boreof the inner member, means for forming and extending the arc firstwithin said inner member and later within said fuse tube upon blowing ofsaid fuse element, and latch means slidably mounted on said one'end ofsaid fuse tube and relea'sable on blowing of said fuse element to permitsaid fuse to move out of engagement' with said contact terminal andy toopen position to interpose an air dielectric between the fuse and saidcontact terminal.

56. In combination, a stationary contact. terminal, a dropout fuseengageable therewith, hinge means for rotatably mounting said-dropoutfuse about its lower end, a latch at the upper end of said dropout fusefor latching it to said 'contact terminal, a fuse link in said fuseincluding a sleeve of insulation and a fusible element therein, and aspring on the upper end of said dropout fuse restrained by said fuselink and operable upon blowing thereof to release said latch and extendthe arc.

57. In combination, a stationary contact terminal, a dropout fuseengageabie therewith, hinge means for rotatably mounting said dropoutfuse about its lower end, a latch at the upper end of said dropout fusefor latching it to said contact terminal, a fuse link in said fuseincluding 'a sleeve of insulation and a fusible element therein, and aspring on the upper end of said dropout fuse restrained by saidfuse linkand operable upon blowing thereof to extend the arc and to release saidlatch by increasing the distance between said latchl and said hingemeans. y y

58. In a dropout fuse, a fuse tube having an open ferrule with a fixedtrunnion at its lower end, a slidable closed ferrule at its upper`end, afuse link connecting the two ferrules and holding the upper "ferruleagainst movement, a stationary detent, and a latch .mounted on theferrule, said daten being released from the detent 53. In combination, acontact terminal, a fuse Y' device-comprising a fuse tube and a fusibleelement therein, a sleeve movable on one end of said tube, means forlatching said sleeve in Gon.-

` upon upward movement of the upper ferrule.

59. In a dropout fuse, a fuse tube having an open ferrule with a fixedtrunnion at its lower` and a spring normally restrained by said fuselink for moving the latch upwardly to release it from the detent uponblowing of the fuse link.

60. In combination, a contact terminal, a fuse comprising a fuse tubehaving a contact engageable with said contact terminal, a fusibleelement inside of said tube, a spring inside of said tube and interposedbetween said contact and said fusible element for tensioning the latterand lengthening the arc within said tube formed on blowing thereof, andmeans responsive to the blowing of said fusible element for releasingthe contact engagement between said contact and said contact terminal tointerpose an air dielectric therebetween.

61. In combination, a dropout tube releasable on blowing of a fusibleelement therein, support means for rotatably and removably mounting saiddropout tube at its lower end, switch means closed directly by movementof said dropout tube when it rotates downwardly to open position, andmeans interlocking said dropout tube and said support means while saidswitch means is being operated.

62. In combination, a dropoutgtube mounted on a trunnion pivot*l at itslower end, switch means closed directly by movement of said dropout tubewhen it rotates downwardly to open position, the trunnion mountingcomprising a hooked stationary bearing and a cooperating trunnion onsaid dropout tube removable from the hooked bearing, and overhangingshoulders on said trunnion mounting cooperating to retain said trunnionin said bearing while said dropout tube is driving said switch means andpermitting removal of said dropout tube on movement thereof to apredetermined position.

63. In a dropout fuse, a fuse tube, a pair of mounting contacts one ofwhich provides a pivotal mounting for the tube the other of whichprovides a catch shoulder, the fuse tube having an upper terminal memberprovided with a catch shoulder cooperable with the catch shoulder on thecontact, said upper terminal member being movable on the fuse tube torelease the catch shoulders. a fuse link in said tube connected `to saidupper terminal member normally holding the said terminal member toprevent disengagement of said shoulders, a spring tensioning said linkand biasing'said terminal member into engagement with its cooperatingcontact, and manually operable means for moving said terminal memberagainst the stress of said spring to disengage said shoulders while saidlink is intact.

64. In combination. a fuse tube, contact means at the upper end of saidtube, stationary contact means disposed to be engaged by said contactmeans on said tube. said contact means engaging in planes approachingthe longitudinal axis of said tube, and spring means cooperating withone of said contact means to provide pressure contact engagementtherebetween at right angles to said planes in which contact engagementtakes place. said contact means on said tube being arranged and adaptedto move relative' to said stationary contact means in a plane parallelto said longitudinal axis of said tube.

65. In a repeating fuse mechanism. in combination, a pair of dropoutfuse devicesjone of which is normally adapted to be connected in acircuit, a transfer switch actuated by movement of said one fuse deviceon blowing of its fusible element to connect the other fuse device insaid circuit, and means arranged and adapted to prevent the contactmembers of said transfer switch from rebounding on engagement thereof.

66. In a repeating fuse mechanism, in combination, a pair of rotatablymounted dropout fuse devices one of which is normally adapted to beconnected in a. circuit, and a transfer switch actuated by movement ofsaidv one fuse device on blowing of its fusible element to connect theother fuse device in said circuit, said transfer switch comprising astationary contact member and a cooperating contact member movable intoengagement therewith from underneath.

67. In a repeating fuse mechanism, in combination, a pair of rotatablymounted dropout fuse devices one of which is normally adapted to beconnected in a circuit, a transfer switch actuated by movement of saidone fuse device.'

68. In combination, a stationary contact terminal, a dropout fuse deviceengageable therewith, hinge means rotatably mounting said fuse deviceabout its lower end, a sleeve slidably mounted on the upper end of -saidfuse device. means for biasing said sleeve upwardly and released onblowing of the fusible element of said fuse device, and latch meanscarried by and movable with said sleeve for latching said fuse device inoperative position, the distance between said hinge means and said latchmeans being increased to release said fuse device for movement from saidoperative position.

69. In combination, a stationary contact terminal, a. dropout fusedevice and a fuse link therein including a sleeve of insulation and atively and hinged at its lower end to swing solely by angular motionabout said hinge downwardly to open position, and rotating switch meanshaving an axis of rotation parallel to the axis about which said vfuseswings and actuated directly by the opening movement of the fuse.

'11. In a circuit interrupter, in combination, a first and a. secondstationary terminal, a fuse tube having fuse terminals and a fuse linktherein electrically interconnecting them, one of said fuse terminalsbeing in contact engagement with said first stationary terminal, theother of said fuse terminals comprising a metallic sleeve through whichsaid fuse tube is relatively movable and being electrically connected tosaid second stationary terminal, means for tensioning said fuse link tolengthen the arc on blowing thereof, and means for effecting relativemovement between said fuse tube and said sleeve after said fuse linkblows to disengage one of said fuse terminals from its stationaryterminal, the tension upon said fuse link before blowing

